Ranger Headquarters

Big Pine National Forest, Knotty Pine

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Ranger Horses Well Trained

A ranger candidate must take some rigorous training to become a ranger. A candidate must go through six weeks of police academy followed by ranger school just to become a ranger. A ranger must then take special classes in areas where he might be assigned, such as first aid or search and rescue. The ranger's training doesn't end there. At various times during each year, a ranger will take special classes to update or braoden his skills and knowledge.A ranger's best friend, his horse, has to pass training that is just as tough, if not tougher than what his ranger gets. A ranger's mount will probably take two to four months of training. The ranger horse must remain calm and in control and do his job in any situation. A horse must be able to deal with horns, firecrackers, running children, objects blocking his vision, and even someone pulling his tail. All this training is much more difficult for a horse than any kind of show training. It's necessary because the ranger's horse may have to face any of those distractions while patrolling several miles of varied terrain, carrying his ranger securely.A ranger and his horse can cover more miles of woods and trails than several men on foot. They may have a better chance of finding a lost child or hiker. The horse gives a ranger a better vantage point for observing the park. A horse is an ambassador to the public, making it much easier for the public and the ranger to make contact and get along. A horse may even be cheaper than a jeep to maintain.So the next time you see rangers or police officers riding their mounts down your street for a parade, consider the training and hard work both man and horse go through to guard and protect you the public and the lands they patrol!